Browse Neurology Articles by Topic

Pattern of Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated with Outcomes After Stroke

In a Japanese stroke registry, permanent as opposed to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was associated with higher in-hospital mortality after stroke.

Blood Pressure Lowering After Acute Stroke: Can It Kill You?

Patients with chronically elevated blood pressure are at increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular death, with a particularly increased risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Treatment to lower systolic BP decreases stroke risk, without an apparent lower threshold down to 120 mmHg. However, lowered SBP (≤ 120 mmHg) in the 5 years after a stroke may be associated with increased mortality. Lower SBP over a shorter period of time after a stroke in chronically hypertensive patients could potentially increase mortality as well.

Incidental Cerebral Microbleeds and Cerebral Blood Flow in Elderly Individuals

Cerebral microbleeds in non-demented elderly people are associated with a global reduction in cerebral blood flow and a high prevalence of beta-amyloid deposition in the brain.

Idarucizumab: A Promising New Drug that Reverses the Anticoagulant Effects of Dabigatran

A recent study found that idarucizumab rapidly reverses the effects of dabigatran and is likely to have important clinical benefits for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage and other disease processes in which reversal of anticoagulation is important.

Clinical Briefs

In this section: Reconsidering the value of oral nutritional supplementation in patients admitted for COPD; recognizing a relationship between asthma and obesity; and weighing the benefits of sound stimulation in Alzheimer's patients.

Eluxadoline Tablets (Viberzi) and Rifaximin (Xifaxan) Tablets

Both drugs appear to provide modest benefit in irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

Statin Use and Cognitive Effects: Not a Brain Drain

A meta-analysis of data from more than 28,000 patients enrolled in 18 randomized, placebo-controlled trials of statin therapy failed to show a causal relationship between treatment and adverse neurocognitive effects for patients with and without cognitive impairment.

Prostate Cancer and Smoking: One More Reason to Trash the Tobacco

Study showed that following prostatectomy for cancer, smokers and ex-smokers had a higher risk of recurrence.

You Are What You Feed Your Gut Microbiome

There is mounting evidence that the gut microbiome influences the immune system and the central and peripheral nervous systems.

ECG Review: What are the Clinical Implications of this Rhythm?

This tracing was obtained from a 69-year-old woman with a long-term history of palpitations. Her symptoms had been increasing over recent weeks, in association with “chest tightness” and dizziness. Her prior medical history was benign, and she was hemodynamically stable at the time this tracing was recorded. How would you interpret this rhythm strip? What are the clinical implications of this rhythm?